Universal Broadband

The future of America’s broadband is at a crossroads. Commerce Secretary Lutnick recently stated that the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is in “dire need of a readjustment.” With his call for a “tech-neutral” approach, all signs point to a shift away from fiber and towards satellite.

The next phase of Elon Musk’s plan to entangle his companies with the workings of the federal government is well underway. That entails not only President Donald Trump’s photo op with a Tesla in front of the White House but also, surprisingly, the future of your internet connection.

The Senate Commerce Committee advanced  14 bills and two nominations, Mark Meador to be a Federal Trade Commissioner (Roll call vote: 20 Yeas, 8 Nays) and Michael Kratsios to be the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (Roll call vote: 24 Yeas, 4 Nays). The approved legislation covers a wide swath of the Commerce Committee’s broad jurisdiction, including, oceans, space exploration, consumer protection, semiconductor manufacturing, and industrial supply chains. The legislation, passed by voice vote, includes:

As a Marjorie and Charles Benton Opportunity Fund Fellow, I have been reviewing state digital equity plans, 5-Year Action Plans, Initial Proposals, and Final Proposals with the goal of understanding how states are working with Tribes on addressing broadband needs. A wise Oneida advisor of mine once shared that in order to properly engage with Indigenous communities, you must practice the three Rs: respect, relationship, and reciprocity. When it comes to the work on Tribal broadband in the U.S., these three essential practices can mean the success or failure of the landmark investm

An unexpected federal review is still holding up Louisiana’s $1.3 billion in federal broadband funding, according to one of the state’s broadband officers. “The review is still ongoing,” said Thomas Tyler, deputy director of the state’s broadband office. Louisiana, along with Delaware and Nevada, received approval on their spending plans for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program in the waning days of the Biden administration. That approval came from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Commerce Department agency handling BEAD. 

Over 30 organizations have signed a letter urging US senators to vote against a resolution that would overturn a Federal Communications Commission decision to allow E-Rate funding to be used for Wi-Fi hotspots for students, school staff and library patrons.

Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez urged policymakers to set aside partisan fights and focus on more pressing issues, like ensuring the availability of spectrum and broadband infrastructure. “I keep hoping that we will turn away from the partisan culture wars and instead focus on our core priorities,” Commissioner Gomez said speaking at the INCOMPAS Policy Summit. She pointed to more pressing issues, like legal challenges to the Universal Service Fund that could jeopardize broadband access for millions of Americans.

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Board Chairman and Trustee Austin Hirsch announced that longtime Executive Director Adrianne B. Furniss will transition to Benton Senior Fellow and will be succeeded by the Institute’s current Vice President of Programs, Dr. Revati Prasad. Furniss will continue to manage the Institute’s programming in Illinois and advise Dr. Prasad for the rest of 2025. Dr. Prasad will assume leadership of the Benton Institute beginning May 1, 2025.

Vermont’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program is now accepting proposals from Internet Service Providers to implement Vermont’s $239 million, federally funded program to deploy broadband internet service throughout the state. The VT-BEAD Full Proposal portal will close at 11:55pm on April 16, 2025.

A bevy of House Republicans lined up at a recent subcommittee hearing to bemoan the $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, minutes after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced he would conduct a “rigorous review” of the effort to close the digital divide. While that hearing turned into another Washington food fight, among state officials, BEAD still appears to have plenty of bipartisan support.